Shimon Peres honored in Portugal

The Portugal-based International Observatory of Human Rights (Observatório Internacional de Direitos Humanos, OIDH) on Sunday honored the legacy of Israel’s former prime minister and president Shimon Peres.

Peres’s family joined the Israeli ambassador to Lisbon, Jewish leaders and politicians during a ceremony in the coastal city of Porto, where OIDH President Luis Andrade presented a “certificate of homage” to the late Israeli statesman.

“Peres was an elite statesman who represents the best of Israel: Resilience, imagination, brilliance, bravery and courage,” said Andrade. “A devoted Zionist, he dedicated his life to seeing Israel born, grow, survive and shine. He is an example for the new generations of Israel in an increasingly unstable and dangerous world.”

Michael Freilich, a member of Belgium’s parliament, called Israel’s ninth president a “man whose legacy of peace and human rights continues to inspire us.”

“Having met him in 2013, I can attest to his profound impact on statesmanship and moral leadership. As we navigate today’s complex challenges, let us remember his enduring principles as a guide for building a more just and fraternal world,” he added.

For his part, Dor Shapira, Jerusalem’s ambassador in Portugal, lauded Peres’s “tireless efforts to achieve peace, his significant contributions to Israel’s security, and his role in promoting the country as a leader in innovation.”

The event was held at the local headquarters of B’nai B’rith International, one of the world’s oldest Jewish organizations.

The Lisbon-based International Observatory of Human Rights seeks to contribute to “a better world for humanity” by supporting causes that seek to “eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, support the sick, promote universal peace and facilitate reconciliation between peoples.”